Chip Load Calculator
Enter spindle speed, flutes and feed rate to get chip load per tooth — or chip load to get the feed rate — with feed per rev and surface speed, in inch or metric.
For surface speed.
The result updates as you type.
Chip load
0.002 in per tooth
60 in/min at 10000 RPM with 3 flutes · 0.006 in per revolution · 1,309 SFM
| Chip load (feed per tooth) | 0.002 in |
| Feed per revolution | 0.006 in |
| Feed rate | 60 in/min |
| Surface speed | 1,309 ft/min (SFM) |
What this page cannot tell you
What chip load your tool and material need — that comes from the cutter maker's chart. Radial chip thinning on light side cuts, machine rigidity and workholding all change the right figure.
How to calculate chip load
- Choose inch or metric. Feeds in in/min or mm/min.
- Pick what to find. Chip load from a feed rate, or a feed rate from a target chip load.
- Enter RPM and flutes. Spindle speed and the cutter's number of teeth.
- Add tool diameter. Optional, for surface speed.
10 situations where a chip load calculator helps
CNC router feeds
Turn a cutter maker's chip load into a feed rate for your spindle speed.
Checking a CAM program
Confirm the chip load a programmed feed and RPM actually give.
Changing spindle speed
Keep chip load constant when RPM changes.
Switching cutters
A 2-flute and a 4-flute need different feeds for the same chip load.
Avoiding rubbing
Too small a chip load rubs and heats the tool; see what you're running.
Metric machines
mm/min and mm per tooth.
Surface speed checks
SFM or m/min from RPM and diameter.
Learning machining
The feed formulas, worked.
Shop setup sheets
Record feed per tooth and feed per rev.
Comparing tool recommendations
Put different makers' data on the same basis.
The formulas
Haas Automation's 'Mill — Speeds and Feeds Formulas' reference gives feed rate in inches per minute as feed per tooth × number of teeth × RPM, feed rate as feed per revolution × RPM, and spindle speed as SFM × 3.82 ÷ tool diameter. Rearranged, chip load = feed rate ÷ (RPM × teeth). Surface speed from RPM is RPM × π × diameter ÷ 12 (the 3.82 in Haas's formula is 12 ÷ π). Metric uses mm and m/min.
Limits: the right chip load depends on the cutter, material, depth and width of cut and machine rigidity, and comes from the tool maker's chart. On light side cuts the actual chip is thinner than the programmed chip load (radial chip thinning), which this page doesn't adjust for. Everything runs in your browser.
Sources
- Haas Automation — Mill Speeds and Feeds Formulas (inch) — IPM = feed per tooth × teeth × RPM; RPM = SFM × 3.82 ÷ D
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate chip load?
Chip load = feed rate ÷ (RPM × number of flutes). 60 in/min at 10,000 RPM with 3 flutes is 0.002 in per tooth.
How do I calculate feed rate from chip load?
Feed rate = chip load × flutes × RPM.
What chip load should I use?
Use the cutter maker's recommendation for your material and tool diameter.
What is SFM?
Surface feet per minute — how fast the cutting edge moves: RPM × π × diameter ÷ 12.
Does it work for routers and mills?
Yes, the same formulas apply to any rotating multi-tooth cutter.
What is chip thinning?
On cuts narrower than half the tool, the real chip is thinner than the programmed chip load; this page uses the programmed value.
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